Northern Cape man gets 15 years for brutal assault on ex-girlfriend

A Northern Cape man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the brutal assault of his ex-girlfriend, in a case that highlights the South African Police Service’s ongoing efforts to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Diane Justice Masike, 34, was found guilty of attempted murder after he viciously attacked his ex-girlfriend on two separate occasions.

On November 10, 2024, Masike punched, kicked, and struck the victim with a beer bottle on the forehead. Despite being released on bail, he assaulted her again on February 3, 2025, this time using an iron object to strike her on the head. 

The Kathu Regional Court handed down the sentence on June 25, 2025, with five years of the sentence suspended for five years, provided Masike does not commit any violent offence during that period.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Sergeant Boikanyo Pilane and Constable Refilwe Rapelang of the Kathu SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for their meticulous investigative work and dedication to ensuring justice for the victim.